5 August 2015
| Last updated on 25 August 2015
Enjoy All the Different Things for You, Not Others
Meet Leigh Pratt, the super busy woman who advises any fellow expat: "go with open eye & mind and try to enjoy all the different things for you."
I’m/ We’re living in:
Pulau Penang, Malaysia.
A bit about us:
I was born in Hartlepool, England. We are known as “Monkey Hangers”, and the town has a unique historic story. You can read more in the Internet about my hometown.
I finished my schooling and started work in 1978 in what was then TSB Bank (known as LloydsTSB Bank now) and continued to work with the bank through two pregnancies with my two daughters; Stephanie, my eldest who married to Liam, a Yorkshire man, in Italy and she works for Expatwoman.com. My youngest daughter Emilie is studying Fine Art in University of Kent, UK. I became a first time Grandma last January and love it.
I stopped working in the bank in 1998 and moved to Nigeria, for two years with my husband Rob and family. Although having many international holidays, this was my first time living abroad and I thought it was great. It worried many friends and family as they had heard many horrible stories about Africa. Well contrary to popular opinion, as a family we enjoyed our experience in Nigeria and would be happy to return anytime.
My second expat move was in 2000 to Pulau Penang, Malaysia, a beautiful island and we have stayed here to make this our home. I do volunteering work with The International Women's Association Penang, of which I was President for three years, and we hold coffee mornings to help new people that have just moved to Penang, to share information to each other and regular lunches with friends and hold bazaars & bake sale events to help raise funds for many local charities.
In 2008 I was offered, and accepted, a position on the school board of governors’ of the school that my daughter attended as a parent governor, and now as my daughter has finished in school I got offered and accepted a patron governor’s position. I am on many committees for school and I chair the Development Committee and have just finished a seven month project, building a four story school extension building with the first basketball court and play area on the school roof in Penang. Also nearly completed purchase for 20 units (2 Blocks x 2.5 story high with 3 bedrooms each unit with lounge, full kitchen and bathrooms) for the schools New Boarding Facilities.
How long have you lived there?
15 years and 6 months.
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Why did you move?
We moved for an overseas contract opportunity for my husband for two years, but my daughter Emilie & I loved living here in Penang so much that we did not want to move back to England after the contract finished. Emilie also loved The International School of Penang (Uplands) she had started in Reception Class, so my husband has worked on numerous jobs in many other countries around the world and we made the family home in Penang.
Why we like living here:
The country is lovely; the island has everything we need. The locals are very friendly and helpful, and so many different foods to try and eat. I love the different weather, sun and rain & lightening storms. Travelling to exotic and interesting places nearby is very nice.
Accommodation Options?
We have every type of accommodation. Apartment blocks from five stories to forty-seven floors, size from 1000sqt to 10,000sqt. Villas many are by the sea and have private pools. Houses one floor to four floors high again some have pools or jacuzzis. Serviced apartment are a great choice if people don't want to stay for 12 months and just stay two or three months, this is a cheaper option. Long stay hotel deals are also available.
What do you enjoy doing with your time?
I've completed a Batik course with wonderful wall pictures to show in my home. Craft groups once a month. A group of ladies meet up once a week to play ten-pin bowling and have a small league/competition going throughout the year and we end the year with a prize giving and lunch. I joined the International Food & Wine Society and enjoy Wine Tasting & Dinner at different venues and meeting new friends. You also have to opportunity to join the many Wine Dinners around the world, which is nice to do. Lastly I enjoy playing golf when I have time and it's not too hot or too wet to play.
What top tips do you have for anyone considering a move?
Never put your personal items in storage, it's a total waste of money. We paid for this for several years and when we eventually went back to reclaim the stored items we gave away 95%, and wondered why we had paid for storage in the UK. Even for two years, sell as much as possible or give to friends to look after if they are willing to help you. Just enjoy buying and selling stuff on every move or move items with you. But most items are not suitable in a different country. Trends change everywhere and so do your tastes when living abroad, however sorting through the old stuff did make us laugh wondering why on earth we stored some of the items.
Do look on Internet sites for the country you are moving to first to see what others say, but have an open mind, as not everyone has the same outlook on life. Some people want what England or their home country has available in the place they move to and this is not always a good thing. Go with open eye and mind, and try to enjoy all the different things for you, not others. Try and work with what the new country has to offer and don’t try and change it to your home country as you will fail and it will only cause frustration for everyone.
What do you wish you’d known before you moved?
It's hard to make long lasting friends that you keep in contact with forever, you find a few but most people are hard to keep in contact with, because often you and they move so often and you only have them around as friends for a few months or a few years.
What’s the best thing about being an expat?
Travelling to other countries around where we live, lots to visit, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand to name a few, seeing others live life as it should be lived. Not having to always keep looking at your watch to see the time. Life is for living and enjoying.
How do you keep a little bit of home with you as an expat?
Cooking meals at home that we would eat in England. Or try and find restaurants that serve food that we miss, photos around the home and make sure you telephone/Skype/facetime with family and friends often.
Anything else you’d like to share with us about your expat experience?
I know that my daughter has enjoyed her experience and would do it the same again, we have been given so many more opportunities living here, and she and myself have been able to go to more places than we could have dreamed of through family vacations and her school trips and love all of our new experiences and wouldn't change them for anything.
